第九十七回
第九十七回 林黛玉焚稿断痴情 薛宝钗出闺成大礼
话说黛玉到潇湘馆门口，紫鹃说了一句话，更动了心，一时吐出血来，几乎晕倒。亏了还同着秋纹，两个人挽扶着黛玉到屋里来。那时秋纹去后，紫鹃雪雁守着，见他渐渐苏醒过来，问紫鹃道：“你们守着哭什么？”紫鹃见他说话明白，倒放了心了，因说：“姑娘刚才打老太太那边回来，身上觉着不大好，唬的我们没了主意，所以哭了。”黛玉笑道：“我那里就能够死呢。”这一句话没完，又喘成一处。原来黛玉因今日听得宝玉宝钗的事情，这本是他数年的心病，一时急怒，所以迷惑了本性。及至回来吐了这一口血，心中却渐渐的明白过来，把头里的事一字也不记得了。这会子见紫鹃哭，方模糊想起傻大姐的话来，此时反不伤心，惟求速死，以完此债。这里紫鹃雪雁只得守着，想要告诉人去，怕又像上次招得凤姐儿说他们失惊打怪的。
那知秋纹回去，神情慌遽〔一〕。正值贾母睡起中觉来，看见这般光景，便问怎么了。秋纹吓的连忙把刚才的事回了一遍。贾母大惊说：“这还了得！”连忙着人叫了王夫人凤姐过来，告诉了他婆媳两个。凤姐道：“我都嘱咐到了，这是什么人去走了风呢〔二〕。这不更是一件难事了吗。”贾母道：“且别管那些，先瞧瞧去是怎么样了。”说着便起身带着王夫人凤姐等过来看视。见黛玉颜色如雪，并无一点血色，神气昏沉，气息微细。半日又咳嗽了一阵，丫头递了痰盒，吐出都是痰中带血的。大家都慌了。只见黛玉微微睁眼，看见贾母在他旁边，便喘吁吁的说道：“老太太，你白疼了我了！”贾母一闻此言，十分难受，便道：“好孩子，你养着罢，不怕的。”黛玉微微一笑，把眼又闭上了。外面丫头进来回凤姐道：“大夫来了。”于是大家略避。王大夫同着贾琏进来，诊了脉，说道：“尚不妨事。这是郁气伤肝，肝不藏血，所以神气不定。如今要用敛阴止血的药，方可望好。”王大夫说完，同着贾琏出去开方取药去了。
贾母看黛玉神气不好，便出来告诉凤姐等道：“我看这孩子的病，不是我咒他，只怕难好。你们〔三〕也该替他预备预备，冲一冲。或者好了，岂不是大家省心。就是怎么样，也不至临时忙乱。咱们家里这两天正有事呢。”凤姐儿答应了。贾母又问了紫鹃一回，到底不知是那个说的。贾母心里只是纳闷，因说：“孩子们从小儿在一处儿顽，好些是有的。如今大了懂的人事，就该要分别些，才是做女孩儿的本分，我才心里疼他。若是他心里有别的想头，成了什么人了呢！我可是白疼了他了。你们说了，我倒有些不放心。”因回到房中，又叫袭人来问。袭人仍将前日回王夫人的话并方才黛玉的光景述了一遍。贾母道：“我方才看他却还不至糊涂，这个理我就不明白了。咱们这种人家，别的事自然没有的，这心病也是断断有不得的。林丫头若不是这个病呢，我凭着花多少钱都使得。若是这个病，不但治不好，我也没心肠了。”凤姐道：“林妹妹的事老太太倒不必张心〔四〕，横竖有他二哥哥天天同着大夫瞧看。倒是姑妈那边的事要紧。今日早起听见说，房子不差什么就妥当了，竟是老太太、太太到姑妈那边，我也跟了去，商量商量。就只一件，姑妈家里有宝妹妹在那里，难以说话，不如索性请姑妈晚上过来，咱们一夜都说结了，就好办了。”贾母王夫人都道：“你说的是。今日晚了，明日饭后咱们娘儿们就过去。”说着，贾母用了晚饭。凤姐同王夫人各自归房。不提。
且说次日凤姐吃了早饭过来，便要试试宝玉，走进里间说道：“宝兄弟大喜，老爷已择了吉日要给你娶亲了。你喜欢不喜欢？”宝玉听了，只管瞅着凤姐笑，微微的点点头儿。凤姐笑道：“给你娶林妹妹过来好不好？”宝玉却大笑起来。凤姐看着，也断不透他是明白是糊涂，因又问道：“老爷说你好了才给你娶林妹妹呢，若还是这么傻，便不给你娶了。”宝玉忽然正色道：“我不傻，你才傻呢。”说着，便站起来说：“我去瞧瞧林妹妹，叫他放心。”凤姐忙扶住了，说：“林妹妹早知道了。他如今要做新媳妇了，自然害羞，不肯见你的。”宝玉道：“娶过来他到底是见我不见？”凤姐又好笑，又着忙，心里想：“袭人的话不差。提了林妹妹，虽说仍旧说些疯话，却觉得明白些。若真明白了，将来不是林姑娘，打破了这个灯虎儿[5]，那饥荒才难打呢。”便忍笑说道：“你好好儿的便见你，若是疯疯颠颠的，他就不见你了。”宝玉说道：“我有一个心，前儿已交给林妹妹了。他要过来，横竖给我带来，还放在我肚子里头。”凤姐听着竟是疯话，便出来看着贾母笑。贾母听了，又是笑，又是疼，便说道：“我早听见了。如今且不用理他，叫袭人好好的安慰他。咱们走罢。”
说着王夫人也来。大家到了薛姨妈那里，只说惦记着这边的事来瞧瞧。薛姨妈感激不尽，说些薛蟠的话。喝了茶，薛姨妈才要叫人告诉宝钗〔五〕，凤姐连忙拦住说：“姑妈不必告诉宝妹妹。”又向薛姨妈陪笑说道：“老太太此来，一则为瞧姑妈，二则也有句要紧的话特请姑妈到那边商议。”薛姨妈听了，点点头儿说：“是了。”于是大家又说些闲话便回〔六〕来了。
当晚薛姨妈果然过来，见过了贾母，到王夫人屋里来，不免说起王子腾来，大家落了一回泪。薛姨妈便问道：“刚才我到老太太那里，宝哥儿出来请安还好好儿的，不过略瘦些，怎么你们说得很利害？”凤姐便道：“其实也不怎么样，只是老太太悬心。目今老爷又要起身外任去，不知几年才来。老太太的意思，头一件叫老爷看着宝兄弟成了家也放心，二则也给宝兄弟冲冲喜，借大妹妹的金锁压压邪气，只怕就好了。”薛姨妈心里也愿意，只虑着宝钗委屈，便道：“也使得，只是大家还要从长计较计较才好。”王夫人便按着凤姐的话和薛姨妈说，只说：“姨太太这会子家里没人，不如把装奁一概蠲免。明日就打发蝌儿去告诉蟠儿，一面这里过门，一面给他变法儿撕掳官事。”并不提宝玉的心事，又说：“姨太太，既作了亲，娶过来早早好一天，大家早放一天心。”正说着，只见贾母差鸳鸯过来候信。薛姨妈虽恐宝钗委屈，然也没法儿，又见这般光景，只得满口应承。鸳鸯回去回了贾母。贾母也甚喜欢，又叫鸳鸯过来求薛姨妈和宝钗说明原故，不叫他受委屈。薛姨妈也答应了。便议定凤姐夫妇作媒人。大家散了。王夫人姊妹不免又叙了半夜话儿。
次日，薛姨妈回家将这边的话细细的告诉了宝钗，还说：“我已经应承了。”宝钗始则低头不语，后来便自垂泪。薛姨妈用好言劝慰解释了好些话。宝钗自回房内，宝琴随去解闷。薛姨妈才告诉了薛蝌，叫他明日起身，“一则打听审详的事，二则告诉你哥哥一个信儿，你即便回来。”
薛蝌去了四日，便回来回复薛姨妈道：“哥哥的事上司已经准了误杀，一过堂就要题本了，叫咱们预备赎罪的银子。妹妹的事，说‘妈妈做主很好的，赶着办又省了好些银子，叫妈妈不用等我，该怎么着就怎么办罢。’”薛姨妈听了，一则薛蟠可以回家，二则完了宝钗的事，心里安放了好些。便是看着宝钗心里好像不愿意似的，“虽是这样，他是女儿家，素来也孝顺守礼的人，知我应了，他也没得说的。”便叫薛蝌：“办泥金庚帖[8]，填上八字，即叫人送到琏二爷那边去。还问了过礼的日子来，你好预备。本来咱们不惊动亲友，哥哥的朋友是你说的‘都是混帐人’，亲戚呢，就是贾王两家，如今贾家是男家，王家无人在京里。史姑娘放定的事，他家没有来请咱们，咱们也不用通知。倒是把张德辉请了来，托他照料些，他上几岁年纪的人，到底懂事。”薛蝌领命，叫人送帖过去。
次日贾琏过来，见了薛姨妈，请了安，便说：“明日就是上好的日子，今日过来回姨太太，就是明日过礼罢。只求姨太太不要挑饬就是了。”说着，捧过通书[9]来。薛姨妈也谦逊了几句，点头应允。贾琏赶着回去回明贾政。贾政便道：“你回老太太说，既不叫亲友们知道，诸事宁可简便些。若是东西上，请老太太瞧了就是了，不必告诉我。”贾琏答应，进内将话回明贾母。
这里王夫人叫了凤姐命人将过礼的物件都送与贾母过目，并叫袭人告诉宝玉。那宝玉又嘻嘻的笑道：“这里送到园里，回来园里又送到这里。咱们的人送，咱们的人收，何苦来呢。”贾母王夫人听了，都喜欢道：“说他糊涂，他今日怎么这么明白呢。”鸳鸯等忍不住好笑，只得上来一件一件的点明给贾母瞧，说：“这是金项圈，这是金珠首饰，共八十件。这是妆蟒四十匹。这是各色绸缎一百二十匹。这是四季的衣服共一百二十件。外面也没有预备羊酒[10]，这是折羊酒的银子。”贾母看了，都说“好”，轻轻的与凤姐说道：“你去告诉姨太太，说：不是虚礼，求姨太太等蟠儿出来慢慢的叫人给他妹妹做来就是了。那好日子的被褥还是咱们这里代办了罢。”凤姐答应了，出来叫贾琏先过去，又叫周瑞旺儿等，吩咐他们：“不必走大门，只从园里从前开的便门内送去，我也就过去。这门离潇湘馆还远，倘别处的人见了，嘱咐他们不用在潇湘馆里提起。”众人答应着送礼而去。宝玉认以为真，心里大乐，精神便觉得好些，只是语言总有些疯傻。那过礼的回来都不提名说姓，因此上下人等虽都知道，只因凤姐吩咐，都不敢走漏风声。
且说黛玉虽然服药，这病日重一日。紫鹃等在旁苦劝，说道：“事情到了这个分儿，不得不说了。姑娘的心事，我们也都知道。至于意外之事是再没有的。姑娘不信，只拿宝玉的身子说起，这样大病，怎么做得亲呢。姑娘别听瞎话，自己安心保重才好。”黛玉微笑一笑，也不答言，又咳嗽数声，吐出好些血来。紫鹃等看去，只有一息奄奄，明知劝不过来，惟有守着流泪，天天三四趟去告诉贾母。鸳鸯测度贾母近日比前疼黛玉的心差了些，所以不常去回。况贾母这几日的心都在宝钗宝玉身上，不见黛玉的信儿也不大提起，只请太医调治罢了。
黛玉向来病着，自贾母起，直到姊妹们的下人，常来问候。今见贾府中上下人等都不过来，连一个问的人都没有，睁开眼，只有紫鹃一人。自料万无生理，因扎挣着向紫鹃说道：“妹妹，你是我最知心的，虽是老太太派你服侍我这几年，我拿你就当作我的亲妹妹。”说到这里，气又接不上来。紫鹃听了，一阵心酸，早哭得说不出话来。迟了半日，黛玉又一面喘一面说道：“紫鹃妹妹，我躺着不受用，你扶起我来靠着坐坐才好。”紫鹃道：“姑娘的身上不大好，起来又要抖搂着了。”黛玉听了，闭上眼不言语了。一时又要起来。紫鹃没法，只得同雪雁把他扶起，两边用软枕靠住，自己却倚在旁边。
黛玉那里坐得住，下身自觉硌的疼，狠命的撑着，叫过雪雁来道：“我的诗本子。”说着又喘。雪雁料是要他前日所理的诗稿，因找来送到黛玉跟前。黛玉点点头儿，又抬眼看那箱子。雪雁不解，只是发怔。黛玉气的两眼直瞪，又咳嗽起来，又吐了一口血。雪雁连忙回身取了水来，黛玉漱了，吐在盒内。紫鹃用绢子给他拭了嘴。黛玉便拿那绢子指着箱子，又喘成一处，说不上来，闭了眼。紫鹃道：“姑娘歪歪儿罢。”黛玉又摇摇头儿。紫鹃料是要绢子，便叫雪雁开箱，拿出一块白绫绢子来。黛玉瞧了，撂在一边，使劲说道：“有字的。”紫鹃这才明白过来，要那块题诗的旧帕，只得叫雪雁拿出来递给黛玉。紫鹃劝道：“姑娘歇歇罢，何苦又劳神，等好了再瞧罢。”只见黛玉接到手里，也不瞧诗，扎挣着伸出那只手来狠命的撕那绢子，却是只有打颤的分儿，那里撕得动。紫鹃早已知他是恨宝玉，却也不敢说破，只说：“姑娘何苦自己又生气！”黛玉点点头儿，掖在袖里，便叫雪雁点灯。雪雁答应，连忙点上灯来。
黛玉瞧瞧，又闭了眼坐着，喘了一会子，又道：“笼上火盆。”紫鹃打谅他冷，因说道：“姑娘躺下，多盖一件罢。那炭气只怕耽不住。”黛玉又摇头儿。雪雁只得笼上，搁在地下火盆架上。黛玉点头，意思叫挪到炕上来。雪雁只得端上来，出去拿那张火盆炕桌。那黛玉却又把身子欠起，紫鹃只得两只手来扶着他。黛玉这才将方才的绢子拿在手中，瞅着那火点点头儿，往上一撂。紫鹃唬了一跳，欲要抢时，两只手却不敢动。雪雁又出去拿火盆桌子，此时那绢子已经烧着了。紫鹃劝道：“姑娘这是怎么说呢。”黛玉只作不闻，回手又把那诗稿拿起来，瞧了瞧又撂下了。紫鹃怕他也要烧，连忙将身倚住黛玉，腾出手来拿时，黛玉又早拾起，撂在火上。此时紫鹃却够不着，干急。雪雁正拿进桌子来，看见黛玉一撂，不知何物，赶忙抢时，那纸沾火就着，如何能够少待，早已烘烘的着了。雪雁也顾不得烧手，从火里抓起来撂在地下乱踩，却已烧得所馀无几了。那黛玉把眼一闭，往后一仰，几乎不曾把紫鹃压倒。紫鹃连忙叫雪雁上来将黛玉扶着放倒，心里突突的乱跳。欲要叫人时，天又晚了；欲不叫人时，自己同着雪雁和鹦哥〔七〕等几个小丫头，又怕一时有什么原故。好容易熬了一夜。
到了次日早起，觉黛玉又缓过一点儿来。饭后，忽然又嗽又吐，又紧起来。紫鹃看着不祥了，连忙将雪雁等都叫进来看守，自己却来回贾母。那知到了贾母上房，静悄悄的，只有两三个老妈妈和几个做粗活的丫头在那里看屋子呢。紫鹃因问道：“老太太呢？”那些人都说不知道。紫鹃听这话诧异，遂到宝玉屋里去看，竟也无人。遂问屋里的丫头，也说不知。紫鹃已知八九，“但这些人怎么竟这样狠毒冷淡！”又想到黛玉这几天竟连一个人问的也没有，越想越悲，索性激起一腔闷气来，一扭身便出来了。自己想了一想：“今日倒要看看宝玉是何形状！看他见了我怎么样过的去！那一年我说了一句谎话他就急病了，今日竟公然做出这件事来！可知天下男子之心真真是冰寒雪冷，令人切齿的！”一面走，一面想，早已来到怡红院。只见院门虚掩，里面却又寂静的很。紫鹃忽然想到：“他要娶亲，自然是有新屋子的，但不知他这新屋子在何处？”
正在那里徘徊瞻顾，看见墨雨飞跑，紫鹃便叫住他。墨雨过来笑嘻嘻的道：“姐姐在这里做什么？”紫鹃道：“我听见宝二爷娶亲，我要来看看热闹儿。谁知不在这里，也不知是几儿。”墨雨悄悄的道：“我这话只告诉姐姐，你可别告诉雪雁他们。上头吩咐了，连你们都不叫知道呢。就是今日夜里娶，那里是在这里，老爷派琏二爷另收拾了房子了。”说着又问：“姐姐有什么事么？”紫鹃道：“没什么事，你去罢。”墨雨仍旧飞跑去了。紫鹃自己也发了一回呆，忽然想起黛玉来，这时候还不知是死是活。因两泪汪汪，咬着牙发狠道：“宝玉，我看他明儿死了，你算是躲的过不见了！你过了你那如心如意的事儿，拿什么脸来见我！”一面哭，一面走，呜呜咽咽的自回去了。
还未到潇湘馆，只见两个小丫头在门里往外探头探脑的，一眼看见紫鹃，那一个便嚷道：“那不是紫鹃姐姐来了吗。”紫鹃知道不好了，连忙摆手儿不叫嚷，赶忙进去看时，只见黛玉肝火上炎，两颧红赤。紫鹃觉得不妥，叫了黛玉的奶妈王奶奶来。一看，他便大哭起来。这紫鹃因王奶妈有些年纪，可以仗个胆儿，谁知竟是个没主意的人，反倒把紫鹃弄得心里七上八下。忽然想起一个人来，便命小丫头急忙去请。你道是谁，原来紫鹃想起李宫裁是个孀居，今日宝玉结亲，他自然回避。况且园中诸事向系李纨料理，所以打发人去请他。
李纨正在那里给贾兰改诗，冒冒失失的见一个丫头进来回说：“大奶奶，只怕林姑娘好不了，那里都哭呢。”李纨听了，吓了一大跳，也不及问了，连忙站起身来便走，素云碧月跟着，一头走着，一头落泪，想着：“姐妹在一处一场，更兼他那容貌才情真是寡二少双，惟有青女素娥可以仿佛一二，竟这样小小的年纪，就作了北邙乡女[12]！偏偏凤姐想出一条偷梁换柱之计，自己也不好过潇湘馆来，竟未能少尽姊妹之情。真真可怜可叹。”一头想着，已走到潇湘馆的门口。里面却又寂然无声，李纨倒着起忙来，想来必是已死，都哭过了，那衣衾未知装裹妥当了没有？连忙三步两步走进屋子来。
里间门口一个小丫头已经看见，便说：“大奶奶来了。”紫鹃忙往外走，和李纨走了个对脸。李纨忙问“怎么样？”紫鹃欲说话时，惟有喉中哽咽的分儿，却一字说不出。那眼泪一似断线珍珠一般，只将一只手回过去指着黛玉。李纨看了紫鹃这般光景，更觉心酸，也不再问，连忙走过来。看时，那黛玉已不能言。李纨轻轻叫了两声，黛玉却还微微的开眼，似有知识之状，但只眼皮嘴唇微有动意，口内尚有出入之息，却要一句话一点泪也没有了。李纨回身见紫鹃不在跟前，便问雪雁。雪雁道：“他在外头屋里呢。”李纨连忙出来，只见紫鹃在外间空床上躺着，颜色青黄，闭了眼只管流泪，那鼻涕眼泪把一个砌花锦边的褥子已湿了碗大的一片。李纨连忙唤他，那紫鹃才慢慢的睁开眼欠起身来。李纨道：“傻丫头，这是什么时候，且只顾哭你的！林姑娘的衣衾还不拿出来给他换上，还等多早晚呢。难道他个女孩儿家，你还叫他赤身露体〔八〕精着来光着去吗！”紫鹃听了这句话，一发止不住痛哭起来。李纨一面也哭，一面着急，一面拭泪，一面拍着紫鹃的肩膀说：“好孩子，你把我的心都哭乱了，快着收拾他的东西罢，再迟一会子就了不得了。”
正闹着，外边一个人慌慌张张跑进来，倒把李纨唬了一跳，看时却是平儿。跑进来看见这样，只是呆磕磕的发怔。李纨道：“你这会子不在那边，做什么来了？”说着，林之孝家的也进来了。平儿道：“奶奶不放心，叫来瞧瞧。既有大奶奶在这里，我们奶奶就只顾那一头儿了。”李纨点点头儿。平儿道：“我也见见林姑娘。”说着，一面往里走，一面早已流下泪来。这里李纨因和林之孝家的道：“你来的正好，快出去瞧瞧去，告诉管事的预备林姑娘的后事。妥当了叫他来回我，不用到那边去。”林之孝家的答应了，还站着。李纨道：“还有什么话呢？”林之孝家的道：“刚才二奶奶和老太太商量了，那边用紫鹃姑娘使唤使唤呢。”李纨还未答言，只见紫鹃道：“林奶奶，你先请罢。等着人死了我们自然是出去的，那里用这么……”说到这里却又不好说了，因又改说道：“况且我们在这里守着病人，身上也不洁净。林姑娘还有气儿呢，不时的叫我。”李纨在旁解说道：“当真这林姑娘和这丫头也是前世的缘法儿。倒是雪雁是他南边带来的，他倒不理会。惟有紫鹃，我看他两个一时也离不开。”林之孝家的头里听了紫鹃的话，未免不受用，被李纨这番一说，却也没的说，又见紫鹃哭得泪人一般，只好瞅着他微微的笑，因又说道：“紫鹃姑娘这些闲话倒不要紧，只是他却说得，我可怎么回老太太呢。况且这话是告诉得二奶奶的吗！”
正说着，平儿擦着眼泪出来道：“告诉二奶奶什么事？”林之孝家的将方才的话说了一遍。平儿低了一回头，说：“这么着罢，就叫雪姑娘去罢。”李纨道：“他使得吗？”平儿走到李纨耳边说了几句，李纨点点头儿道：“既是这么着，就叫雪雁过去也是一样的。”林之孝家的因问平儿道：“雪姑娘使得吗？”平儿道：“使得，都是一样。”林家的道：“那么姑娘就快叫雪姑娘跟了我去。我先去回了老太太和二奶奶，这可是大奶奶和姑娘的主意。回来姑娘再各自回二奶奶去。”李纨道：“是了。你这么大年纪，连这么点子事还不耽呢。”林家的笑道：“不是不耽，头一宗这件事老太太和二奶奶办的，我们都不能很明白；再者又有大奶奶和平姑娘呢。”说着，平儿已叫了雪雁出来。原来雪雁因这几日嫌他小孩子家懂得什么，便也把心冷淡了。况且听是老太太和二奶奶叫，也不敢不去。连忙收拾了头，平儿叫他换了新鲜衣服，跟着林家的去了。随后平儿又和李纨说了几句话。李纨又嘱咐平儿打那么催着林之孝家的叫他男人快办了来。平儿答应着出来，转了个弯子，看见林家的带着雪雁在前头走呢，赶忙叫住道：“我带了他去罢，你先告诉林大爷办林姑娘的东西去罢。奶奶那里我替回就是了。”那林家的答应着去了。这里平儿带了雪雁到了新房子里，回明了自去办事。
却说雪雁看见这般光景，想起他家姑娘，也未免伤心，只是在贾母凤姐跟前不敢露出。因又想道：“也不知用我作什么，我且瞧瞧。宝玉一日家和我们姑娘好的蜜里调油，这时候总不见面了，也不知是真病假病。怕我们姑娘不依，他假说丢了玉，装出傻子样儿来，叫我们姑娘寒了心，他好娶宝姑娘的意思。我看看他去，看他见了我傻不傻。莫不成今儿还装傻么！”一面想着，已溜到里间屋子门口，偷偷儿的瞧。这时宝玉虽因失玉昏愦，但只听见娶了黛玉为妻，真乃是从古至今天上人间第一件畅心满意的事了，那身子顿觉健旺起来——只不过不似从前那般灵透，所以凤姐的妙计百发百中——巴不得即见黛玉，盼到今日完姻，真乐得手舞足蹈，虽有几句傻话，却与病时光景大相悬绝了。雪雁看了，又是生气，又是伤心，他那里晓得宝玉的心事，便各自走开。
这里宝玉便叫袭人快快给他装新，坐在王夫人屋里。看见凤姐尤氏忙忙碌碌，再盼不到吉时，只管问袭人道：“林妹妹打园里来，为什么这么费事，还不来？”袭人忍着笑道：“等好时辰。”回来又听见凤姐与王夫人道：“虽然有服，外头不用鼓乐，咱们南边规矩要拜堂的，冷清清使不得。我传了家内学过音乐管过戏子的那些女人来吹打，热闹些。”王夫人点头说：“使得。”
一时大轿从大门进来，家里细乐[14]迎出去，十二对宫灯，排着进来，倒也新鲜雅致。傧相[15]请了新人出轿。宝玉见新人蒙着盖头，喜娘[16]披着红扶着。下首扶新人的你道是谁，原来就是雪雁。宝玉看见雪雁，犹想：“因何紫鹃不来，倒是他呢？”又想道：“是了，雪雁原是他南边家里带来的，紫鹃仍是我们家的，自然不必带来。”因此见了雪雁竟如见了黛玉的一般欢喜。傧相赞礼[17]，拜了天地。请出贾母受了四拜，后请贾政夫妇登堂，行礼毕，送入洞房。还有坐床撒帐等事，俱是按金陵旧例。贾政原为贾母作主，不敢违拗，不信冲喜之说。那知今日宝玉居然像个好人一般，贾政见了，倒也喜欢。那新人坐了床便要揭起盖头的，凤姐早已防备，故请贾母王夫人等进去照应。
宝玉此时到底有些傻气，便走到新人跟前说道：“妹妹身上好了？好些天不见了，盖着这劳什子做什么！”欲待要揭去，反把贾母急出一身冷汗来。宝玉又转念一想道：“林妹妹是爱生气的，不可造次。”又歇了一歇，仍是按捺不住，只得上前揭了。喜娘接去盖头，雪雁走开，莺儿等上来伺候。宝玉睁眼一看，好像宝钗，心里不信，自己一手持灯，一手擦眼，一看，可不是宝钗么！只见他盛妆艳服，丰肩体，鬟低鬓，眼[18]息微，真是荷粉露垂，杏花烟润了。宝玉发了一回怔，又见莺儿立在旁边，不见了雪雁。宝玉此时心无主意，自己反以为是梦中了，呆呆的只管站着。众人接过灯去，扶了宝玉仍旧坐下，两眼直视，半语全无。贾母恐他病发，亲自扶他上床。凤姐尤氏请了宝钗进入里间床上坐下，宝钗此时自然是低头不语。宝玉定了一回神，见贾母王夫人坐在那边，便轻轻的叫袭人道：“我是在那里呢？这不是做梦么？”袭人道：“你今日好日子，什么梦不梦的混说。老爷可在外头呢。”宝玉悄悄儿的拿手指着道：“坐在那里这一位美人儿是谁？”袭人握了自己的嘴，笑的说不出话来，歇了半日才说道：“是新娶的二奶奶。”众人也都回过头去，忍不住的笑。宝玉又道：“好糊涂，你说二奶奶到底是谁？”袭人道：“宝姑娘。”宝玉道：“林姑娘呢？”袭人道：“老爷作主娶的是宝姑娘，怎么混说起林姑娘来。”宝玉道：“我才刚看见林姑娘了么，还有雪雁呢，怎么说没有。你们这都是做什么顽呢？”凤姐便走上来轻轻的说道：“宝姑娘在屋里坐着呢。别混说，回来得罪了他，老太太不依的。”宝玉听了，这会子糊涂更利害了。本来原有昏愦的病，加以今夜神出鬼没，更叫他不得主意，便也不顾别的了，口口声声只要找林妹妹去。贾母等上前安慰，无奈他只是不懂。又有宝钗在内，又不好明说。知宝玉旧病复发，也不讲明，只得满屋里点起安息香来，定住他的神魂，扶他睡下。众人鸦雀无闻，停了片时，宝玉便昏沉睡去。贾母等才得略略放心，只好坐以待旦，叫凤姐去请宝钗安歇。宝钗置若罔闻，也便和衣在内暂歇。贾政在外，未知内里原由，只就方才眼见的光景想来，心下倒放宽了。恰是明日就是起程的吉日，略歇了一歇，众人贺喜送行。贾母见宝玉睡着，也回房去暂歇。
次早，贾政辞了宗祠，过来拜别贾母，禀称：“不孝远离，惟愿老太太顺时颐养[19]。儿子一到任所，即修禀[20]请安，不必挂念。宝玉的事，已经依了老太太完结，只求老太太训诲。”贾母恐贾政在路不放心，并不将宝玉复病的话说起，只说：“我有一句话，宝玉昨夜完姻，并不是同房。今日你起身，必该叫他远送才是。他因病冲喜，如今才好些，又是昨日一天劳乏，出来恐怕着了风。故此问你，你叫他送呢，我即刻去叫他；你若疼他，我就叫人带了他来，你见见，叫他给你磕头就算了。”贾政道：“叫他送什么，只要他从此以后认真念书，比送我还喜欢呢。”贾母听了，又放了一条心，便叫贾政坐着，叫鸳鸯去如此如此，带了宝玉，叫袭人跟着来。鸳鸯去了不多一会，果然宝玉来了，仍是叫他行礼。宝玉见了父亲，神志略敛些，片时清楚，也没什么大差。贾政吩咐了几句，宝玉答应了。贾政叫人扶他回去了，自己回到王夫人房中，又切实的叫王夫人管教儿子，断不可如前娇纵。明年乡试，务必叫他下场。王夫人一一的听了，也没提起别的。即忙命人扶了宝钗过来，行了新妇送行之礼，也不出房。其馀内眷俱送至二门而回。贾珍等也受了一番训饬。大家举酒送行，一班子弟及晚辈亲友，直送至十里长亭[21]而别。
不言贾政起程赴任。且说宝玉回来，旧病陡发，更加昏愦，连饮食也不能进了。未知性命如何，下回分解。
〔一〕 “神情慌遽”，“遽”原作“处”，从藤本改。
〔二〕 “什么人去走了风呢”，原作“什么人走了了呢”，从藤本改。
〔三〕 “你们”，原作“他们”，从藤本改。
〔四〕 “张心”，程乙本作“张逻”。藤本、王本作“挂心”。
[5] 灯虎儿——即灯谜。
〔五〕 “宝钗”，原无，从藤本补。
〔六〕 “回”字原无，从藤本补。
[8] 泥金庚帖——用泥金笺写的庚帖，上写订婚者的姓名、籍贯、生辰八字及祖宗三代等。泥金：用金粉打底，纸上涂满金粉的叫泥金，洒成散点的叫洒金。
[9] 通书——这里指旧时男家通知女家迎娶日期的帖子。
[10] 羊酒——古时用羊和酒作赏赐、馈赠或庆贺的礼物。羊通“祥”，酒谐“久”，皆寓吉兆。这里作为订婚聘礼。
〔七〕 鹦哥，出现于第三回。时林黛玉初到荣府，贾母因见她随带的奶娘“极老”，丫头雪雁又“甚小”，“一团孩气”，遂将自己的一名丫头“名唤鹦哥的与了黛玉”。第八回出现紫鹃，此后，既未交代鹦哥改名为紫鹃，亦未交代黛玉的贴身丫头易人，鹦哥亦未在前八十回中再次出现。紫鹃、鹦哥似即一人。此处二人同时出场，仍之。
[12] 北邙乡女——代指女子的死亡。
〔八〕 “赤身露体”，“赤”原作“失”，从梦稿本改。
[14] 细乐——用丝竹管弦等乐器所奏的轻清之乐。
[15] 傧相——古时称接引宾客的人叫傧，赞礼的人叫相。这里指旧日行婚礼时陪伴引导新郎新娘的男子和女子。
[16] 喜娘——旧时结婚时陪伴照料新娘的妇人。
[17] 赞礼——这里指结婚仪式中宣唱仪节。
[18] （shùn顺）——这里指眼皮微动。
[19] 颐养——保养。
[20] 修禀——这里指给长辈写信。修：撰写。禀：下对上的报告。
[21] 十里长亭——古时设在远郊大路旁供人休息的亭舍，送行的人常饯别于此。《白孔六帖·馆驿》：“十里一长亭，五里一短亭。”
CHAPTER 97. Lin Dai-yu burns her poems to signal the end of her heart’s folly And Xue Bao-chai leaves home to take part in a solemn rite
We have seen how Dai-yu, on reaching the entrance of the Naiad’s House, and on hearing Nightingale’s cry of relief, slumped forward, vomited blood and almost fainted. Luckily Nightingale and Ripple were both at hand to assist her into the house. When Ripple left, Nightingale and Snowgoose stood by Dai-yu’s bedside and watched her gradually come round.
‘Why are you two standing round me crying?’ asked Dai-yu, and Nightingale, greatly reassured to hear her talking sense again, replied:
‘On your way back from Her Old Ladyship’s; Miss, you had quite a nasty turn. We were scared and did not know what to do. That’s why we were crying.’
‘I am not going to die yet!’ said Dai-yu, with a bitter smile. But before she could even finish this sentence, she was doubled up and gasping for breath once more.
When she had learned earlier that day that Bao-yu and Bao-chai were to be married, the shock of knowing that what she had feared for so long was now about to come true, had thrown her into such a turmoil that at first she had quite taken leave of her senses. Now that she had brought up the blood, her mind gradually became clearer. Though at first she could remember nothing, when she saw Nightingale crying, Simple’s words slowly came back to her. This time she did not succumb to her emotions, but set her heart instead on a speedy death and final settlement of her debt with fate.
Nightingale and Snowgoose could only stand by helplessly. They would have gone to inform the ladies, but were afraid of a repetition of the last occasion, when Xi-feng had rebuked them for creating a false alarm. Ripple had already given all away, however, by the look of horror on her face when she returned to Grandmother Jia’s apartment. The old lady, who had just risen from her midday nap, asked her what the matter was, and in her shocked state Ripple told her all that she had just witnessed.
‘What a terrible thing!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia, aghast. She sent for Lady Wang and Xi-feng at once, and told them both the news.
‘But I gave instructions to everyone to observe strict secrecy,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Who can have betrayed us? Now we have another problem on our hands.’
‘Never mind that for the moment,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘We must first find out how she is.’
She took Lady Wang and Xi-feng with her to visit Dai-yu, and they arrived to find her barely conscious, breathing in faint little gasps, her face bloodless and white as snow. After a while she coughed again. A maid brought the spittoon and they watched with horror as she spat out a mouthful of blood and phlegm. Dai-yu faintly opened her eyes, and seeing Grandmother Jia standing at her bedside, struggled to find breath to speak.
‘Grandmother! Your love for me has been in vain.’
Grandmother Jia was most distraught.
‘There now, my dear, you must rest. There is nothing to fear.’
Dai-yu smiled faintly and closed her eyes again. A maid came in to tell Xi-feng that the doctor had arrived. The ladies withdrew, and doctor Wang came in with Jia Lian. He took Dai-yu’s pulses, and said:
‘As yet, there is no cause for alarm. An obstruction of morbid humours has affected the liver, which is unable to store the blood, and as a consequence her spirit has been disturbed. I shall prescribe a medicine to check the Yin, and to halt the flow of blood. I think all will be well.’
Doctor Wang left the room, accompanied by Jia Lian, to write out his prescription.
Grandmother Jia could tell that this time Dai-yu was seriously ill, and as they left the room, she said to Lady Wang and Xi-feng:
‘I do not wish to sound gloomy or bring her bad luck, but I fear she has small hope of recovery, poor child. You must make ready her grave-clothes and coffin. Who knows, such preparations may even turn her luck. She may recover, which will be a mercy for us all. But it would be sensible anyway to be prepared for the worst, and not be taken unawares. We shall be so busy over the next few days.’
Xi-feng said she would make the necessary arrangements. Grandmother Jia then questioned Nightingale, but she had no idea who it was that had upset Dai-yu. The more she thought about it, the more it puzzled Grandmother Jia, and she said to Xi-feng and Lady Wang:
‘I can understand that the two of them should have grown rather fond of one another, after growing up together and playing together as children. But now that they are older and more mature, the time has come for them to observe a certain distance. She must behave properly, if she is to earn my love. It’s quite wrong of her to think she can disregard such things. Then all my love will have been in vain! What you have told me troubles me.’
She returned to her apartment and sent for Aroma again. Aroma repeated to her all that she had told Lady Wang on the previous occasion, and in addition described the scene earlier that day between Dai-yu and Bao-yu.
‘And yet, when I saw her just now,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘she still seemed able to talk sense. I simply cannot understand it. Ours is a decent family. We do not tolerate unseemly goings-on. And that applies to foolish romantic attachments. If her illness is of a respectable nature, I do not mind how much we have to spend to get her better. But if she is suffering from some form of lovesickness, no amount of medicine will cure it and she can expect no further sympathy from me either.’
‘You really shouldn’t worry about Cousin Lin, Grandmother,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Lian will be visiting her regularly with the doctor. We must concentrate on the wedding arrangements. Early this morning I heard that the finishing touches were being put to the bridal courtyard. You and Aunt Wang and I should go over to Aunt Xue’s for a final consultation. There is one thing that occurs to me, however: with Bao-chai there, it will be rather awkward for us to discuss the wedding. Maybe we should ask Aunt Xue to come over here tomorrow evening, and then we can settle everything at once.’
Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang agreed that her proposal was a good one, and said:
‘It is too late today. Tomorrow after lunch, let us all go over together.’
Grandmother Jia’s dinner was now served, and Xi-feng and Lady Wang returned to their apartments.
Next day, Xi-feng came over after breakfast. Wishing to sound out Bao-yu according to her plan, she advanced into his room and said:
‘Congratulations, Cousin Bao! Uncle Zheng has already chosen a lucky day for your wedding! Isn’t that good news?’
Bao-yu stared at her with a blank smile, and nodded his head faintly.
‘He is marrying you,’ went on Xi-feng, with a studied smile, ‘to your cousin Lin. Are you happy?’
Bao-yu burst out laughing. Xi-feng watched him carely, but could not make out whether he had understood her, or was simply raving. She went on:
‘Uncle Zheng says, you are to marry Miss Lin, if you get better. But not if you carry on behaving like a half-wit.’
Bao-yu’s expression suddenly changed to one of utter seriousness, as he said:
‘I’m not a half-wit. You’re the half-wit.’
He stood up.
‘I am going to see Cousin Lin, to set her mind at rest.’
Xi-feng quickly put out a hand to stop him.
‘She knows already. And, as your bride-to-be, she would be much too embarrassed to receive you now.’
‘What about when we’re married? Will she see me then?’
Xi-feng found this both comic and somewhat disturbing.
‘Aroma was right,’ she thought to herself. ‘Mention Dai-yu, and while he still talks like an idiot, he at least seems to understand what’s going on. I can see we shall be in real trouble, if he sees through our scheme and finds out that his bride is not to be Dai-yu after all.’
In reply to his question, she said, suppressing a smile:
‘If you behave, she will see you. But not if you continue to act like an imbecile.’
To which Bao-yu replied:
‘I have given my heart to Cousin Lin. If she marries me, she will bring it with her and put it back in its proper place.’
Now this was madman’s talk if ever, thought Xi-feng. She left him, and walked back into the outer room, glancing with a smile in Grandmother Jia’s direction. The old lady too found Bao-yu’s words both funny and distressing.
‘I heard you both myself,’ she said to Xi-feng. ‘For the present, we must ignore it. Tell Aroma to do her best to calm him down. Come, let us go.’
Lady Wang joined them, and the three ladies went across to Aunt Xue’s. On arrival there, they pretended to be concerned about the course of Xue Pan’s affair. Aunt Xue expressed her profound gratitude for this concern, and gave them the latest news. After they had all taken tea, Aunt Xue was about to send for Bao-chai, when Xi-feng stopped her, saying:
‘There is no need to tell Cousin Chai that we are here, Auntie.’
With a diplomatic smile, she continued:
‘Grandmother’s visit today is not purely a social one. She has something of importance to say, and would like you to come over later so that we can all discuss it together.’
Aunt Xue nodded.
‘Of course.’
After a little more chat, the three ladies returned.
That evening Aunt Xue came over as arranged, and after paying her respects to Grandmother Jia, went to her sister’s apartment. First there was the inevitable scene of sisterly commiseration over Wang Zi-teng’s death. Then Aunt Xue said:
‘Just now when I was at Lady Jia’s, young Bao came out to greet me and seemed quite well. A little thin perhaps, but certainly not as ill as I had been led to expect from your description and Xi-feng’s.’
‘No, it is really not that serious,’ said Xi-feng. ‘It’s only Grandmother who will worry so. Her idea is that it would be reassuring for Sir Zheng to see Bao-yu married before he leaves, as who knows when he will be able to come home from his new posting. And then from Bao-yu’s own point of view, it might be just the thing to turn his luck. With Cousin Chai’s golden locket to counteract the evil influence, he should make a good recovery.’
Aunt Xue was willing enough to go along with the idea, but was concerned that Bao-chai might feel rather hard done by.
‘I see nothing against ..,’ she said. ‘But I think we should all take time to think it over properly.’
In accordance with Xi-feng’s plan, Lady Wang went on:
‘As you have no head of family present, we should like you to dispense with the usual trousseau. Tomorrow you should send Ke to let Pan know that while we proceed with the wedding, we shall continue to do our utmost to settle his court-case.’
She made no mention of Bao-yu’s feelings for Dai-yu, but continued:
‘Since you have given your consent, the sooner they are married, the sooner things will look up for everyone.’
At this point, Faithful came in to take back a report to Grandmother Jia. Though Aunt Xue was still concerned about Bao-chai’s feelings, she saw that in the circumstances she had no choice, and agreed to everything they had suggested. Faithful reported this to Grandmother Jia, who was delighted and sent her back again to ask Mrs Xue to explain to Bao-chai why it was that things were being done in this way, so that she would not feel unfairly treated. Aunt Xue agreed to do this, and it was settled that Xi-feng and Jia Lian would act as official go-betweens. Xi-feng retired to her apartment, while Aunt Xue and Lady Wang stayed up talking together well into the night.
Next day, Aunt Xue returned to her apartment and told Bao-chai the details of the proposal, adding:
‘I have already given my consent.’
At first Bao-chai hung her head in silence. Then she began to cry. Aunt Xue said all that she could to comfort her, and went to great lengths to explain the reasoning behind the decision. Bao-chai retired to her room, and Bao-qin went in to keep her company and cheer her up. Aunt Xue also spoke to Ke, instructing him as follows:
‘You must leave tomorrow. Find out the latest news of Pan’s judgement, and then convey this message to him. Return as soon as you possibly can.’
Xue Ke was away for four days, at the end of which time he returned to report to Aunt Xue.
‘The Circuit Judge has ratified the verdict of manslaughter, and after the next hearing his final memorial will be presented to the Provincial Supreme Court for confirmation. We should have the commutation money ready. As for Cousin Chai’s affair, Cousin Pan approves entirely of your decision, Aunt. And he says that curtailing the formalities will save us a lot of money too. You are not to wait for him, but should do whatever you think best.’
Aunt Xue’s mind was greatly eased by the knowledge that Xue Pan would soon be free to come home, and that there were now no further obstacles to the marriage. She could see that Bao-chai was unwilling to be married in this way, but reasoned with herself: ‘Even if this is not what she ideally wants, she is my daughter and has always been obedient and well-bred. She knows I have agreed to it, and will not go against my wishes.’
She instructed Xue Ke:
‘We must prepare the betrothal-card. Take some fine gold-splash paper and write on it the Stems and Branches of Bao-chai’s birth. Then take it to Cousin Lian. Find out which day has been fixed for the exchange of presents, and make all the necessary preparations for sending ours. We shall not be inviting any friends or relatives to the wedding. Pan’s friends are a worthless lot, as you yourself said, while our relations consist mainly of the Jias and the Wangs. The Jias are groom’s family, and there are no Wangs in the capital at present. When Xiang-yun was engaged, the Shis did not invite us, so we need not get in touch with them. The only person I think we should invite is our business manager, Zhang De-hui. He is an older man and experienced in such things, and will be a help to us.’
Xue Ke carried out these instructions, and sent a servant over with the betrothal-card. Next day, Jia Lian came to visit Aunt Xue. After paying his respects, he said:
‘I have consulted the almanac, and tomorrow is a most propitious day. I have come here today to propose that our two families exchange presents tomorrow. And please, Aunt Xue, do not be too critical about the arrangements.’
He presented the groom’s notice, which bore the date of the wedding. Aunt Xue said a few polite words of acceptance and nodded her assent. Jia Lian returned at once and reported to Jia Zheng.
‘Report to your Grandmother,’ said Jia Zheng, ‘and say that as we are not inviting anybody, the wedding should be kept very simple. She can exercise her discretion over the presents. There is no need to consult me any further.’
Jia Lian bowed, and went in to convey this message to Grandmother Jia. Meanwhile Lady Wang had told Xi-feng to bring in the presents that were being given on Bao-yu’s behalf, for Grandmother Jia’s inspection. She also told Aroma to bring Bao-yu in to see them. He seemed highly amused by the whole business, and said:
‘It seems such a waste of everyone’s time, to send all these things from here to the Garden, and then have them brought all the way back, when it’s all in the family anyway!’
This seemed to Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia sufficient proof that, whatever anyone might have said to the contrary, Bao-yu still had his wits about him, and they said as much to each other in tones of some satisfaction. Faithful and the other maids could not help but smile too. They brought the presents in and displayed them one by one, describing them as they went along:
‘A gold necklace and other jewellery in gold and precious stones – altogether eighty pieces; forty bolts of dragon-brocade for formal wear and one hundred and twenty bolts of silks and satins in various colours; one hundred and twenty costumes for the four seasons of the year. They have not had time in the kitchen to prepare the sheep and wine, so this is money in lieu.’
Grandmother Jia expressed her approval, and said softly to Xi-feng:
‘You must tell Mrs Xue not to think of this as an empty formality. In due course, when Pan is back and she has that weight off her mind, she can have these made up into dresses for Chai. In the meantime, we shall take care of all the bedcovers for the wedding-day.’
‘Yes Grandmother,’ replied Xi-feng, and returned to her apartment. She sent Jia Lian over first to Aunt Xue’s, then summoned Zhou Rui and Brightie to receive their instructions.
‘When delivering the presents,’ she said, ‘you are not to use the main gate. Use the little side-gate in the garden, that used to be kept open. I shall be going over myself shortly. The side-gate has the advantage of being a long way from the Naiad’s House. If anyone from any other apartment notices you, you are to tell them on no account to mention it at the Naiad’s House.’
‘Yes ma’am.’
The two men departed for Aunt Xue’s apartment at the head of a contingent of servants bearing the presents.
Bao-yu was quite taken in by all this. His new feeling of happy anticipation had caused a general improvement in his health, though his manner of speech remained rather eccentric at times. When the present-bearers returned, the whole thing was accomplished without a single name being mentioned. The family and all the staff knew, but were under orders from Xi-feng to maintain absolute secrecy, and no one dared disobey.
*
Dai-yu meanwhile, for all the medicine she took, continued to grow iller with every day that passed. Nightingale did her utmost to raise her spirits. Our story finds her standing once more by Dai-yu’s bedside, earnestly beseeching her:
‘Miss, now that things have come to this pass, I simply must speak my mind. We know what it is that’s eating your heart out. But can’t you see that your fears are groundless? Why, look at the state Bao-yu is in! How can he possibly get married, when he’s so ill? You must ignore these silly rumours, stop fretting and let yourself get better.’
Dai-yu gave a wraithlike smile, but said nothing. She started coughing again and brought up a lot more blood. Nightingale and Snowgoose came closer and watched her feebly struggling for breath. They knew that any further attempt to rally her would be to no avail, and could do nothing but stand there watching and weeping. Each day Nightingale went over three or four times to tell Grandmother Jia, but Faithful, judging the old lady’s attitude towards Dai-yu to have hardened of late, intercepted her reports and hardly mentioned Dai-yu to her mistress. Grandmother Jia was preoccupied with the wedding arrangements, and in the absence of any particular news of Dai-yu, did not show a great deal of interest in the girl’s fate, considering it sufficient that she should be receiving medical attention.
Previously, when she had been ill, Dai-yu had always received frequent visits from everyone in the household, from Grandmother Jia down to the humblest maidservant. But now not a single person came to see her. The only face she saw looking down at her was that of Nightingale. She began to feel her end drawing near, and struggled to say a few words to her:
‘Dear Nightingale! Dear sister! Closest friend! Though you were Grandmother’s maid before you came to serve me, over the years you have become as a sister to me …’
She had to stop for breath. Nightingale felt a pang of pity, was reduced to tears and could say nothing. After a long silence, Dai-yu began to speak again, searching for breath between words:
‘Dear sister! I am so uncomfortable lying down like this. Please help me up and sit next to me.’
‘I don’t think you should sit up, Miss, in your condition. You might get cold in the draught.
Dai-yu closed her eyes in silence. A little later she asked to sit up again. Nightingale and Snowgoose felt they could no longer deny her request. They propped her up on both sides with soft pillows, while Nightingale sat by her on the bed to give further support. Dai-yu was not equal to the effort. The bed where she sat on it seemed to dig into her, and she struggled with all her remaining strength to lift herself up and ease the pain. She told Snowgoose to come closer.
‘My poems …’
Her voice failed, and she fought for breath again. Snowgoose guessed that she meant the manuscripts she had been revising a few days previously, went to fetch them and laid them on Dai-yu’s lap. Dai-yu nodded, then raised her eyes and gazed in the direction of a chest that stood on a stand close by. Snowgoose did not know how to interpret this and stood there at a loss. Dai-yu stared at her now with feverish impatience. She began to cough again and brought up another mouthful of blood. Snowgoose went to fetch some water, and Dai-yu rinsed her mouth and spat into the spittoon. Nightingale wiped her lips with a handkerchief. Dai-yu took the handkerchief from her and pointed to the chest. She tried to speak, but was again seized with an attack of breathlessness and closed her eyes.
‘Lie down, Miss,’ said Nightingale. Dai-yu shook her head. Nightingale thought she must want one of her handkerchiefs, and told Snowgoose to open the chest and bring her a plain white silk one. Dai-yu looked at it, and dropped it on the bed. Making a supreme effort, she gasped out:
‘The ones with the writing on …’
Nightingale finally realized that she meant the handkerchiefs Bao-yu had sent her, the ones she had inscribed with her own poems. She told Snowgoose to fetch them, and herself handed them to Dai-yu, with these words of advice:
‘You must lie down and rest, Miss. Don’t start wearing yourself out. You can look at these another time, when you are feeling better.’
Dai-yu took the handkerchiefs in one hand and without even looking at them, brought round her other hand (which cost her a great effort) and tried with all her might to tear them in two. But she was so weak that all she could achieve was a pathetic trembling motion. Nightingale knew that Bao-yu was the object of all this bitterness but dared not mention his name, saying instead:
‘Miss, there is no sense in working yourself up again.’
Dai-yu nodded faintly, and slipped the handkerchiefs into her sleeve.
‘Light the lamp,’ she ordered.
Snowgoose promptly obeyed. Dai-yu looked into the lamp, then closed her eyes and sat in silence. Another fit of breathlessness. Then:
‘Make up the fire in the brazier.’
Thinking she wanted it for the extra warmth, Nightingale protested:
‘You should lie down, Miss, and have another cover on. And the fumes from the brazier might be bad for you.’
Dai-yu shook her head, and Snowgoose reluctantly made up the brazier, placing it on its stand on the floor. Dai-yu made a motion with her hand, indicating that she wanted it moved up onto the kang. Snowgoose lifted it and placed it there, temporarily using the floor-stand, while she went out to fetch the special stand they used on the kang. Dai-yu, far from resting back in the warmth, now inclined her body slightly forward – Nightingale had to support her with both hands as she did so. Dai-yu took the handkerchiefs in one hand. Staring into the flames and nodding thoughtfully to herself, she dropped them into the brazier. Nightingale was horrified, but much as she would have liked to snatch them from the flames, she did not dare move her hands and leave Dai-yu unsupported. Snowgoose was out of the room, fetching the brazier-stand, and by now the handkerchiefs were all ablaze.
‘Miss!’ cried Nightingale. ‘What are you doing?’
As if she had not heard, Dai-yu reached over for her manuscripts, glanced at them and let them fall again onto the kang. Nightingale, anxious lest she burn these too, leaned up against Dai-yu and freeing one hand, reached out with it to take hold of them. But before she could do so, Dai-yu had picked them up again and dropped them in the flames. The brazier was out of Nightingale’s reach, and there was nothing she could do but look on helplessly.
Just at that moment Snowgoose came in with the stand. She saw Dai-yu drop something into the fire, and without knowing what it was, rushed forward to try and save it. The manuscripts had caught at once and were already ablaze. Heedless of the danger to her hands, Snowgoose reached into the flames and pulled out what she could, throwing the paper on the floor and stamping frantically on it. But the fire had done its work, and only a few charred fragments remained.
Dai-yu closed her eyes and slumped back, almost causing Nightingale to topple over with her. Nightingale, her heart thumping in great agitation, called Snowgoose over to help her settle Dai-yu down again. It was too late now to send for anyone. And yet, what if Dai-yu should die during the night, and the only people there were Snowgoose, herself and the one or two other junior maids in the Naiad’s House? They passed a restless night. Morning came at last, and Dai-yu seemed a little more comfortable. But after breakfast she suddenly began coughing and vomiting, and became tense and feverish again. Nightingale could see that she had reached a crisis. She called Snowgoose and the other juniors in and told them to mount watch, while she went to report to Grandmother Jia. But when she reached Grandmother Jia’s apartment, she found it almost deserted. Only a few old nannies and charladies were there, keeping an eye.
‘Where is Her Old Ladyship?’ asked Nightingale.
‘We don’t know,’ came the reply in chorus.
That was very odd, thought Nightingale. She went into Bao-yu’s room and found that too quite empty, save for a single maid who answered with the same ‘Don’t know’. By now Nightingale had more or less guessed the truth. How could they be so heartless and so cruel? And to think that not a soul had come to visit Dai-yu during the past few days! As the bitterness of it struck her with full force, she felt a great wave of resentment break out within her, and turned abruptly to go.
‘I shall go and find Bao-yu, and see how he is faring! I wonder how he will manage to brazen it out in front of me! I remember last year, when I made up that story about Miss Lin going back to the South, he fell sick with despair. To think that now he should be openly doing a thing like this! Men must have hearts as cold as ice or snow. What hateful creatures they are!’
She was already at Green Delights, and found the courtyard gate ajar. All was quiet within. Suddenly she realized:
‘Of course! If he is getting married, he will have a new apartment. But where?’
She was looking around her in uncertainty, when she saw Bao-yu’s page boy Inky rush past, and called to him to stop. He came over, and with a broad smile asked:
‘What are you doing here, Miss Nightingale?’
‘I heard that Master Bao was getting married,’ replied Nightingale, ‘and I wanted to watch some of the fun. But I can see I’ve come to the wrong place. And I don’t know when the wedding is taking place, either.’
‘If I tell you,’ said Inky in a confidential tone, ‘you must promise not to tell Snowgoose. We’ve been given orders not to let any of you know. The wedding’s to be tonight. Of course it’s not being held here. The Master told Mr Lian to set aside another apartment.’
‘What’s the matter?’ continued Inky, after a pause.
‘Nothing,’ replied Nightingale. ‘You can go now.’
Inky rushed off again. Nightingale stood there for a while, lost in thought. Suddenly she remembered Dai-yu. She might already be dead! Her eyes filled with tears, and clenching her teeth, she said fiercely:
‘Bao-yu! If she dies, you may think you can wash your hands of her in this callous way: but when you are happily married, and have your heart’s desire, you needn’t think you can look me in the face again!’
As she walked, she began to weep. She made her way, sobbing pitifully, across the Garden. She was not far from the Naiad’s House, when she saw two junior maids standing at the gate, peeping out nervously. They saw her coming, and one of them cried out:
‘There’s Miss Nightingale! At last!’
Nightingale could see that all was not well. Gesturing to anxiously to them be silent, she hurried in, to find Dai-yu red in the face, the fire from her liver having risen upwards and inflamed her cheeks. This was a dangerous sign, and Nightingale called Dai-yu’s old wet-nurse, Nannie Wang, to come and take a look. One glance was enough to reduce this old woman to tears. Nightingale had turned to Nannie Wang as an older person, who could be expected to lend them some courage in this extremity. But she turned out to be quite helpless, and only made Nightingale more distraught than before. Suddenly she thought of someone else she could turn to, and sent one of the younger maids to fetch her with all speed. Her choice might seem a strange one; but Nightingale reasoned that as a widow, Li Wan would certainly be excluded from Bao-yu’s wedding festivities. Besides she was in general charge of affairs in the Garden, and it would be in order to ask her to come.
Li Wan was at home correcting some of Jia Lan’s poems, when the maid came rushing frantically in and cried:
‘Mrs Zhu! Miss Lin’s dying! Everyone over there is in tears!’
Li Wan rose startled to her feet and without a word set off at once for the Naiad’s House, followed by her maids Candida and Casta. As she walked, she wept and lamented to herself:
‘When I think of all the times we have spent together – oh my poor cousin! So lovely, so gifted! There is hardly another like her. Only Frost Maiden and the Goddess of the Moon could rival her. How can she be leaving us at such a tender age, for that distant land from whence no travellers return … And to think that because of Xi-feng’s deceitful scheme, I have not been able to show myself at the Naiad’s House and have done nothing to show my sisterly affection! Oh the poor, dear girl!’
She was already at the gate of the Naiad’s House. There was no sound from within. She began to fret.
‘I must be too late! She must have died already and they are resting between their lamentations. I wonder if her grave-clothes and coverlet are ready?’
She quickened her step and hurried on into the room. A young maid standing at the inner doorway had already seen her, and called out:
‘Mrs Zhu is here!’
Nightingale hurried out to meet her.
‘How is she?’ asked Li Wan.
Nightingale tried to answer but all she could muster was a choked sob. Tears poured down her cheeks like pearls from a broken necklace, as she pointed silently to where Dai-yu lay. Realizing with a pang what Nightingale’s pitiable condition must portend, Li Wan asked no more, but went over at once to see for herself. Dai-yu no longer had the strength to speak. When Li Wan said her name a few times, her eyes opened a slit as if in recognition of the voice. But her eyelids and lips could only make a trembling suggestion of a movement. Although she still breathed, it was now more than she could manage to utter a single word, or shed a single tear.
Li Wan turned around and saw that Nightingale was no longer in the room. She asked Snowgoose where she was, and Snowgoose replied:
‘In the outer room.’
Li Wan hurried out, to find Nightingale lying on the empty bed, her face a ghastly green, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Where her head lay on the embroidered pillow, with its border of fine brocade, was a patch the size of a small plate, wet with her tears and the copious effusions of her nose. When Li Wan called to her, she opened her eyes slowly, and raised herself slightly on the bed.
‘Silly girl!’ Li Wan upbraided her. ‘Is this a time for tears? Fetch Miss Lin’s grave-clothes and dress her in them. Are you going to leave it till it is too late? Would you have her go naked from the world? Would you ruin her honour?’
This released a fresh flood of tears on Nightingale’s part. Li Wan wept herself, fretfully wiping her eyes and patting Nightingale on the shoulder.
‘Dear girl! Look how you are upsetting me now, and making me cry. Hurry and get her things ready. If we delay much longer, it will all be over.’
They were in this state of trepidation, when they heard footsteps outside, and someone came running into the room in a great flurry, causing Li Wan to start back in alarm. It was Patience. When she saw their tear-stained faces, she stopped abruptly and stared at them aghast for a while.
‘Why aren’t you over there?’ asked Li Wan. ‘What do you want here?’
As she spoke, Steward Lin’s wife also came into the room. Patience answered:
‘Mrs Lian was worried, and sent me to see how things were. As you are here, Mrs Zhu, I can tell her to set her mind at rest.’
Li Wan nodded. Patience went on:
‘I should like to see Miss Lin myself.’ So saying, she walked into Dai-yu’s bed-chamber, with tears on her cheeks. Li Wan turned to Steward Lin’s wife and said:
‘You have come just in time. Go and find your husband, and tell him to prepare Miss Lin’s coffin and whatever else is necessary. When everything has been satisfactorily arranged, he is to let me know. There is no need to go over to the house.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ replied Lin’s wife, but made no move to go.
‘Well? Is there something else?’ asked Li Wan.
‘Mrs Lian and Her Old Ladyship,’ replied the steward’s wife, ‘have decided that they need Miss Nightingale in attendance over there.’
Before Li Wan could say anything, Nightingale spoke up for herself:
‘Mrs Lin, will you be so kind as to leave now? Can’t you even wait until she is dead? We will leave her then, you need not fear. How can you be so …’
She stopped short, thinking it inadvisable to be so rude, and changing her tone somewhat, said:
‘Besides, after waiting on a sick person, I fear we would not be fit for such an occasion. And while Miss Lin is still alive, she may ask for me at any time.’
Li Wan tried to make the peace between them.
‘The truth is,’ she said, ‘that this maid and Miss Lin have an affinity from a past life. Snowgoose, I know, was Miss Lin’s original maid from home, but even she is not so indispensable as Nightingale. We really cannot separate them just now.’
Lin’s wife, who had been considerably put out by Nightingale’s outspoken response, was obliged to contain herself when Li Wan came to the maid’s defence. Seeing Nightingale reduced to floods of tears, she eyed her with a hostile smile and said:
‘I shall ignore Miss Nightingale’s rudeness. But am I to report what you have just said to Her Old Ladyship? And am I to tell Mrs Lian?’
As she was speaking, Patience came out of Dai-yu’s bedchamber, wiping her eyes.
‘Tell Mrs Lian what?’ she asked.
Lin’s wife told her the substance of their conversation. Patience lowered her head in thought. After a moment, she said:
‘Why can’t you take Snowgoose?’
‘Would she do?’ asked Li Wan. Patience went up to her and whispered a few words in her ear. Li Wan nodded, and said:
‘Well in that case, it will be just as good if we send Snowgoose.’
‘Will Miss Snowgoose do?’ Lin’s wife asked Patience.
‘Yes,’ replied Patience. ‘She will do just as well.’
‘Then will you please tell her to come with me straight away,’ said Lin’s wife. ‘I shall report to Her Old Ladyship and Mrs Lian. I shall say that you are both responsible for the arrangement, mind. And later you can tell Mrs Lian yourself, Miss Patience.’
‘Of course,’ replied Li Wan curtly. ‘Do you mean to say that someone as old and experienced as you cannot even take the responsibility for a small thing like this?’
Lin’s wife smiled.
‘It is not that I can’t take the responsibility. It is just that Her Old Ladyship and Mrs Lian have arranged everything and the likes of us don’t really know what’s going on. In the circumstances, it seems only right to mention you and Miss Patience.’
Patience had already told Snowgoose to come out. Over the past few days Snowgoose had fallen rather into disfavour with Dai-yu, who had called her a ‘silly, ignorant child’, and her feelings of loyalty towards her mistress had as a consequence been rather blunted. Besides there was no question of her disobeying an order from Her Old Ladyship and Mrs Lian. She therefore tidied her hair quickly and made ready to go. Patience told her to change into her smartest clothes and to go with Mrs Lin. Patience herself stayed on and spoke for a short while with Li Wan. Before she left, Li Wan instructed her to call in on Lin’s wife on her way and tell her that her husband should make the necessary preparations for Dai-yu with all possible speed. This Patience agreed to do and went on her way. As she turned a corner in the Garden, she caught sight of Lin’s wife walking ahead of her with Snowgoose and called to her to wait.
‘I will take Snowgoose with me. You go and tell your husband to prepare Miss Lin’s things. I will report to Mrs Lian for you.’
‘Yes, Miss Patience,’ said Lin’s wife, and went on her errand.
Patience then took Snowgoose to the bridal apartment, and reported there herself before going to see to her own affairs.
*
When Snowgoose saw the wedding preparations in full swing and thought of Dai-yu lying at death’s door, she felt a pang of grief. But she dared not show her feelings in the presence of Grandmother Jia and Xi-feng. ‘What can they want me for?’ she wondered. ‘I must see what is going on. I know Bao-yu used to be head over heels in love with Miss Lin. And yet now he seems to have deserted her. I begin to wonder if this illness of his is genuine or just a pretence. He may have made the whole thing up so as to avoid upsetting Miss Lin. By pretending to lose his jade and acting like an idiot, perhaps he thinks he can put her off, and marry Miss Chai with a clear conscience? I must watch him closely, and see if he acts the fool when he sees me. Surely he won’t keep up the pretence on his wedding-day?’ She slipped in and stood spying at the inner doorway.
Now, though Bao-yu’s mind was still clouded from the loss of his jade, his sense of joy at the prospect of marrying Dai-yu – in his eyes the most blessed, the most wonderful thing that had happened in heaven or earth since time began – had caused a temporary resurgence of physical well-being, if not a full restoration of his mental faculties. Xi-feng’s ingenious plan had had exactly the intended effect, and he was now counting the minutes till he should see Dai-yu. Today was the day when all his dreams were to come true, and he was filled with a feeling of ecstasy. He still occasionally let slip some tell-tale imbecile remark, but in other respects gave the appearance of having completely recovered. All this Snowgoose observed, and was filled with hatred for him and grief for her mistress. She knew nothing of the true cause of his joy.
While Snowgoose slipped away unobserved, Bao-yu told Aroma to hurry and dress him in his bridegroom’s finery. He sat in Lady Wang’s chamber, watching Xi-feng and You-shi bustling about their preparations, himself bursting with impatience for the great moment.
‘If Cousin Lin is coming from the Garden,’ he asked Aroma, ‘why all this fuss? Why isn’t she here yet?’
Suppressing a smile, Aroma replied:
‘She has to wait for the propitious moment.’
Xi-feng turned to Lady Wang and said:
‘Because we are in mourning, we cannot have music in the street. But the traditional ceremony would seem so drab without any music at all, so I have told some of the women-servants with a bit of musical knowledge, the ones who used to look after the actresses, to come and play a little, to add a bit of a festive touch.’
Lady Wang nodded, and said she thought this a good idea. Presently the great bridal palanquin was born in through the main gate. The little ensemble of women-servants played, as it entered down an avenue of twelve pairs of place-lanterns, creating a passably stylish impression. The Master of Ceremonies requested the bride to step out of her palanquin, and Bao-yu saw the Matron of Honour, all in red, lead out his bride, her face conceled by the bridal veil. There was a maid in attendance, and Bao-yu saw to his surprise that it was Snowgoose. This puzzled him for a moment.
‘Why Snowgoose, and not Nightingale?’ he asked himself. Then: ‘Of course. Snowgoose is Dai-yu’s original maid from the South, whereas Nightingale was one of our maids, which would never do.’
And so, when he saw Snowgoose, it was as if he had seen the face of Dai-yu herself beneath the veil.
The Master of Ceremonies chanted the liturgy, and the bride and groom knelt before Heaven and Earth. Grandmother Jia was called forth to receive their obeisances, as were Sir Zheng, Lady Wang and other elders of the family, after which they escorted the couple into the hall and thence to the bridal chamber. Here they were made to sit on the bridal bed, were showered with dried fruit and subjected to the various other practices customary in old Nanking families such as the Jias, which we need not describe in detail here.
Jia Zheng, it will be remembered, had gone along with the plan grudgingly, in deference to Grandmother Jia’s wishes, retaining grave though unspoken doubts himself as to her theory of ‘turning Bao-yu’s luck’. But today, seeing Bao-yu bear himself with a semblance of dignity, he could not help but be pleased.
The bride was how sitting alone on the bridal bed, and the moment had come for the groom to remove her veil. Xi-feng had made her preparations for this event, and now asked Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang and others of the ladies present to step forward into the bridal chamber to assist her. The sense of climax seemed to cause Bao-yu to revert somewhat to his imbecile ways, for as he approached his bride he said:
‘Are you better now, coz? It’s such a long time since we last saw each other. What do you want to go wrapping yourself up in that silly thing for?’
He was about to raise the veil. Grandmother Jia broke into a cold sweat. But he hesitated, thinking to himself:
‘I know how sensitive Cousin Lin is. I must be very careful not to offend her.’
He waited a little longer. But soon the suspense became unbearable, and he walked up to her and lifted the veil. The Matron of Honour took it from him, while Snowgoose melted into the background and Oriole came forward to take her place. Bao-yu stared at his bride. Surely this was Bao-chai? Incredulous, with one hand holding the lantern, he rubbed his eyes with the other and looked again. It was Bao-chai. How pretty she looked, in her wedding-gown! He gazed at her soft skin, the full curve of her shoulders, and her hair done up in tresses that hung from her temples! Her eyes were moist, her lips quivered slightly. Her whole appearance had the simple elegance of a white lily, wet with pendant dew; the maidenly blush on her cheeks resembled apricot-blossom wreathed in mist. For a moment he stared at her in utter astonishment. Then he noticed that Oriole was standing at her side, while Snowgoose had quite vanished. A feeling of helpless bewilderment seized him, and thinking he must be dreaming, he stood there in a motionless daze. The maids took the lamp from him and helped him to a chair, where he sat with his eyes fixed in front of him, still without uttering a single word. Grandmother Jia was anxious lest this might signal the approach of another of his fits, and herself came over to rally him, while Xi-feng and You-shi escorted Bao-chai to a chair in the inner part of the room. Bao-chai held her head bowed and said nothing.
After a while, Bao-yu had composed himself sufficiently to think. He saw Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang sitting opposite him, and asked Aroma in a whisper:
‘Where am I? This must all be a dream.’
‘A dream? Why, it’s the happiest day of your life!’ said Aroma. ‘How can you be so silly? Take care: Sir Zeng is outside.’
Pointing now to where Bao-chai sat, and still whispering, Bao-yu asked again:
‘Who is that beautiful lady sitting over there?’
Aroma found this so comical that for a while she could say nothing, but held her hand to her face to conceal her mirth. Finally she replied:
‘That is your bride, the new Mrs Bao-yu.’
The other maids also turned away, unable to contain their laughter.
Bao-yu: ‘Don’t be so silly! What do you mean, “Mrs Bao-yu”? Who is Mrs Bao-yu?’
Aroma: ‘Miss Chai.’
Bao-yu: ‘But what about Miss Lin?’
Aroma: ‘The Master decided you should marry Miss Chai. What’s Miss Lin got to do with it?’
Bao-yu: ‘But I saw her just a moment ago, and Snowgoose too. They couldn’t have just vanished! What sort of trick is this that you’re all playing on me?’
Xi-feng came up and whispered in his ear:
‘Miss Chai is sitting over there, so please stop talking like this. If you offend her, Grannie will be very cross with you.’
Bao-yu was now more hopelessly confused than ever. The mysterious goings-on of that night, coming on top of his already precarious mental state, had wrought him up to such a pitch of despair that all he could do was cry – ‘I must find Cousin Lin!’ – again and again. Grandmother Jia and the other ladies tried to comfort him but he was impervious to their efforts. Furthermore, with Bao-chai in the room, they had to be careful what they said. Bao-yu was clearly suffering from a severe relapse, and they now abandoned their attempts to rally him and instead helped him to bed, while ordering several sticks of gum benzoin incense to be lit, the heavy, sedative fumes of which soon filled the room. They all stood in awesome hush. After a short while, the incense began to take effect and Bao-yu sank into a heavy slumber, much to the relief of the ladies, who sat down again to await the dawn. Grandmother Jia told Xi-feng to ask Bao-chai to lie down and rest, which she did, fully dressed as she was, behaving as though she had heard nothing.
Jia Zheng had remained in an outer room during all of this, and so had seen nothing to disillusion him of the reassuring impression he had received earlier on. The following day, as it happened, was the day selected according to the almanac for his departure to his new post. After a short rest, he took formal leave of the festivities and returned to his apartment. Grandmother Jia, too, left Bao-yu sound asleep and returned to her apartment for a brief rest.
The next morning, Jia Zheng took leave of the ancestors in the family shrine and came to bid his mother farewell. He bowed before her and said:
‘I, your unworthy son, am about to depart for afar. My only wish is that you should keep warm in the cold weather and take good care of yourself. As soon as I arrive at my post, I shall write to ask how you are. You are not to worry on my account. Bao-yu’s marriage has now been celebrated in accordance with your wishes, and it only remains for me to beg you to instruct him, and impart to him the wisdom of your years.’
Grandmother Jia, for fear that Jia Zheng would worry on his journey, made no mention of Bao-yu’s relapse but merely said:
‘There is one thing I should tell you. Although the rites were performed last night, Bao-yu’s marriage was not properly consummated. His health would not allow it. Custom, I know, decrees that he should see you off today. But in view of all the circumstances, his earler illness, the luck turning, his still fragile state of convalescence and yesterday’s exertions, I am worried that by going out he might catch a chill. So I put it to you: if you wish him to fulfil his filial obligations by seeing you off, then send for him at once and instruct him accordingly; but if you love him, then spare him and let him say goodbye and make his kotow to you here.’
‘Why should I want him to see me off?’ returned Jia Zheng. ‘All I want is that from now on he should study in earnest. That would bring me greater pleasure by far.’
Grandmother Jia was most relieved to hear this. She told Jia Zheng to be seated and sent Faithful, after imparting to her various secret instructions, to fetch Bao-yu and to bring Aroma with him. Faithful had not been away many minutes, when Bao-yu came in and with the usual promptings, performed his duty to his father. Luckily the sight of his father brought him, for a few moments, sufficient clarity to get through the formalities without any gross lapses. Jia Zheng delivered himself of a few exhortatory words, to all of which his son gave the correct replies. Then Jia Zheng told Aroma to escort him back to his room, while he himself went to Lady Wang’s apartment. There he earnestly enjoined Lady Wang to take charge of Bao-yu’s moral welfare during his absence.
‘There must be none of his previous unruliness,’ he added. ‘He must now prepare himself to enter for next year’s provincial examination.’
Lady Wang assured him that she would do her utmost, and without mentioning anything else, at once sent a maid to escort Bao-chai into the room. Bao-chai performed the rite proper to a newly-married bride seeing off her father-in-law, and then remained in the room when Jia Zheng left. The other women-folk accompanied him as far as the inner gate before turning back. Cousin Zhen and the other young male Jias received a few words of exhortation, drank a farewell toast, and, together with a crowd of other friends and relatives, accompanied him as far as the Hostelry of the Tearful Parting, some three or four miles beyond the city walls, where they bid their final farewell.
But of Jia Zheng’s departure no more. Let us return to Bao-yu, who on leaving his father, had suffered an immediate relapse. His mind became more and more clouded, and he could swallow neither food nor drink. Whether or not he was to emerge from this crisis alive will be revealed in the next chapter.